Theft Crimes

Los Angeles Theft Crime Lawyer

Theft crimes can take many forms. Any action calculated to deprive another
of their rightful ownership or exclusive control of monies, items or other
entities can constitute theft. Depending on the specific crime and the
particulars surrounding its execution, a theft crime may result in misdemeanor or
felony charges. In either case, a criminal defense attorney can do much to attempt
the best outcome possible if you have been accused of such a crime.

Theft crimes may include, amongst others, the following:

Burglary In the state of California, burglary is also referred to as "breaking
and entering" and refers to entering a building with the purpose
of committing a felony, such as robbery. In some cases, burglary does
not even need to consist of breaking and entering and can occur should
a person remain in a building or dwelling after their invitation has been
withdrawn. This is a three strikes offense.

Carjacking The crime of carjacking involves the violent taking of a vehicle. By using
force or the fear of force to take a motor vehicle, the defendant will
often be facing felony charges. This is different from other theft crimes
involving cars, such as grand theft auto, as it is taking the vehicle
from someone's possession directly. Taking a car from someone's
driveway would not be carjacking.

Grand Theft The term of grand theft is a classification of theft which covers all
types of thefts where the item stolen is of high value. This can be done
violently, as through robbery, or may even be committed as a white collar
crime behind the scene for years – such as fraud, embezzlement,
identity theft or any other form of non-violent theft. Regardless, the
defining factor of grand theft is the high value stolen.

Petty Theft Similar to grand theft, the term petty theft is an umbrella term that
covers a wide variety of theft crimes where the item taken is minor. This
is typically charged with such crimes a shoplifting and is normally a
misdemeanor. For example, someone grabbing a t-shirt in a retail store
would be a crime of petty theft, whereas someone taking a diamond necklace
would likely be grand theft.

Larceny The criminal offense of larceny refers to the taking of property that
belongs to another. This is defined under California Penal Code §484
(2010) and can refer to several different forms of theft. This could be
anything from shoplifting to grand theft auto with penalties that will
vary depending on the circumstances of the actual arrest. The higher the
value of the stolen goods, the more severe the penalties.

Robbery One of the most common forms of theft crimes is that of robbery. This
includes the theft of a possession that belongs to another person from
either their direct person or from their immediate possession. To be classified
as robbery, this action must have been committed through either force
or the threat of force and the causing of fear. This is considered to
be a felony offense.

Shoplifting Another common form of theft is known as shoplifting. This is the taking
of good from a retail store either by not paying, refunding something
that was not legally purchased, using knowing invalid forms of payment
to purchase items or altering the price tags to pay less than the product
is valued at. This is commonly tried as a juvenile crime and is usually
a misdemeanor, but depending on the value of the product could be a felony.

Criminal Defense Attorney in Los Angeles

At
Martinian & Associates, we have experience with all types of theft cases. The familiarity this
brings is invaluable in strategically handling your defense. We know which
specifics of the case should be looked into and how and where evidence
may be found. Additionally, we can review the prosecution's evidence
and sometimes find factors which invalidate its admissibility.

All of our actions are aligned toward gathering information which may be
used in the attempt to achieve the best results possible. As needed, we
can also pursue a reduction of charges and even negotiate in an attempt
to achieve lesser penalties. Along with our great familiarity, we recognize
that each case is individual and will approach yours with a fresh view
of what can be done in your defense.